Short Summary

NOR-aligned and western nations are moving towards confrontation in the United Nations over the Middle East question.

Description

NOR-aligned and western nations are moving towards confrontation in the United Nations over the Middle East question.

Eighteen non-aligned nations with Senegal setting the lead, on Wednesday(6 Dec) introduced a resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from territory occupied during the 1967 war. To head-off the crisis - heightened by an Israeli threat to withdraw from mediation efforts - western diplomats began urgent consultations. Israel's Ambassador Yosef Takosh warned that if the resolution was adopted - and the non-aligned nations seem to have the strength to see it is - it would destroy Middle East peace efforts.

SYNOPSIS: The future of the Middle East peace negotiations was said to be in the balance as debate continued in the United Nations. Israel made it clear it would pull but of talks if a resolution before the binaural Assembly were accepted.

The resolution called for Israel to withdrew from all territory captured during the 1967 war. The resolution was introduced by Senegal, heading a body of 18 non-aligned nations supporting the move. The resolution also called on the General Assembly to impose sanctions against israel. It is the strongest resolution on the issue yet brought before the UN. A number of Arab delegates took the rostrum to speak on the resolution.

Thn feelings expressed by nations behind the resolution were mostly the same. The Sudan delegate was among them.

The General Assembly debate on the Middle East has become an annual issue.

But this year the non-aligned nations, have taken it a step further with their strong resolution. Their joint action in forcing the expulsion of taiwan from the Assembly seems to have made the non-aligned nations relies the power they have as a unified body. Observers at the United Nations said the resolution would be passed, although behind-the-scenes efforts were being made to modify it.